Photographic printing device



Dec. 6, 1966 v. B. STREIT 3,289,531

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING DEVICE Filed April 28, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. VERNON B. STREIT ATTORNEY Dec. 6, 1966 v, sTRElT 3,289,531

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING DEVICE Filed April 28, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. VERNON B. STREIT BY mw ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,289,531 Patented Dec. 6, 1966 3,289,531 PHOTGGRAPHIC PRINTING DEVICE Vernon B. Streit, 16048 Vanowen St., Van Nuys, Calif. Filed Apr. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 363,109 3 Claims. (Cl. 8824) The present invention relates to a photograhic printing device and more particularly to a printing device having one mode of operation wherein a printing frame is provided for sequentially and successively presenting to a printing position distinct areas of a printing medium arranged in rows and columns and which in a second mode of operation may be employed as an easel to print individual, borderless pictures. In the practice of photognaphy, it is often necessary to make a multiple reproduction of prints of an image from an original. It is also often necessary to make individual, borderless prints. Since the reproductions must necessarily be made in a dark room, the apparatus employed must be capable of being easily manipulated by touch alone successively to make a plurality of regularly spaced exposures of an original film on a sheet of sensitized paper when printing a plurality of reproductions and which may be easily adjusted to print individual, borderless reproductions.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved printing device for making a plurality of regularly spaced exposures on a sheet of sensitized paper in one operating mode and to make individual, borderless exposures on a sheet of sensitized paper in another operating mode.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved photographic printing easel.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved printing easel which is ineX pensive to manufacture and may be manipulated easily and accurately in a dark room.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a printing frame is reciprocally mounted on a base plate having a way or groove which slidably receives a guide member on the printing frame. The base plate is provided with stop members so that the printing frame may be accurately positiond by touch in a first position adjacent one edge of the base plate and in a second position adjacent the other edge of the base plate. The frame is provided with a masked area under which is placed a sensitized paper on which the pictures are to be printed and a lid is slidably mounted within the masked area so that one half thereof may be opened when the lid is slid to a first position and the other half opened when the lid is slid to a second position. Guide means are provided on the printing frame to guide the sheet of sensitized paper into position beneath the masked area. Then, with the lid slid to a first position and the frame slid to a stop member adjacent one edge of the base plate, a first print may be made on the sensitized paper. Then the lid may be slid to its second position and the frame slid to the other stop member adjacent the other edge of the base plate and a second print may be made on the sensitized paper. The sensitized paper may then be moved Within the guide means to bring another portion thereof under the masked area and the two steps repeated. Thus, four prints may be made on a single sheet of sensitized paper.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the base plate is designed to function also as a printing easel for accommodating individual, borderless prints. A masked opening is provided in the frame as in the case of the first embodiment and a lid is slidably mounted therein so that only one half of the masked area is open at any one time. A carriage member is slidably mounted in the frame beneath the masked opening and includes means for readily positioning the slideable carriage member in one of four positions beneath the masked opening. When a sensitized paper is attached to the slidable carriage, one fourth of the paper will be disposed beneath the masked opening at any particular time. Then, with the slidable lid covering one half of the masked opening, one eighth of the sensitized paper is exposed to the opening at any one time. Thus, a picture may be projected on the sensitized paper with the lid slid to a first position and the frame slid adjacent one edge of the base plate. Then the lid may be slide to cover the other half of the masked opening and the frame may be slid to its position on the other edge of the base plate so that the picture may be projeced on the other corner of the sensitized paper. Then the sidable carriage may be actuated to bring another strip of the sensitized paper into position beneath the masked area so that two more prints may be projected on the sensitized paper after which the slidable carriage is moved to successive positions until eight prints have been projected on the sensitized paper.

The frame may be removed'frorn the base plate and the base plate may then be employed as a printing easel and is provided with border lines to define various sizes of sensitized paper which may be placed thereon. The sensitized paper is retained on the printing easel by means of fine wires which engage each corner of the sensitized paper so that it may be exposed clear to its peripheral edges without leaving a margin, as would be the case if a frame having a masked area were employed.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a photograhic printing device constituting a first embodiment of the present invention in one operating position;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view similar to FIGURE 1 with the photograhic printing device shown in a second operating position;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view similar to FIGURE 1 with the device shown in a third operating position;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the device of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged elevational view of the areas shown Within the circles 5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a bottom view of a portion of the device of FIGURE 1 taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of a photographic printing device constituting a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 9 is an end view of the device of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken along line 1010 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along line 11--11 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 12 is a plan view of the base portion of the device of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along line 1313 of FIGURE 12; and

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14 of FIGURE 13.

Referring again to the drawings and particularly to FIGURES 1-7, a photographic printing device constituting a first embodiment of the present invention, generally designated 10, includes a base member 12, upon which a printing frame 14 is reciprocally mounted. A groove or way 1 6 is formed along the minor axis of the base member 12 and extends from one edge 18 to another edge 20 thereof. A stop member 22 is mounted on the base member 12 at each end of the way 16 and is en- .gageable by a guide member 24 to limit the travel of the printing frame 14 during reciprocation thereof upon the base member 12. A first riser 26 is secured to a third edge 28 of base member 12 and a second riser 29 is secured to a fourth edge 30 of the base member 12. The risers 26 and 29 elevate the frame 14 slightly above the base member 12 to minimize its frictional engagement therewith. A plurality of pads 32 may be attached to the underside of the base member 12 to support it on a table or other area, not shown.

The printing frame 14 includes a top wall 36 having an upper surface 38 and a lower surface 40. A paper supporting and guide member 42 is affixed to the underside 40 of the top wall 36 and is maintained in spaced relation therewith by means of spacers 44 (FIGURE which extend along the edges of the guide member 42, as shown by broken lines of FIGURE 7. The paper supporting and guide member 42 includes a U-shaped recess 46 at each end to facilitate sliding and positioning sheets of photo-sensitive paper 48 into the frame 14 between the under surface 40 of top Wall 36 and the member 42. A depending wall 50 extends along each edge of the member 42 and is secured to the top Wall 36 by means of an angle iron 52.

A notch 54 (FIGURE 6) is provided in each depending wall 50 to receive the guide member 24. The walls 50 slide upon the spacers 26 and 29 to maintain the frame 14 in spaced relation with the base member 12.

An opening 56 is provided in the top wall 36 and includes ways 58 upon which a lid or cover 60 is slidably mounted. The cover 60 includes a grip portion or knob 62 which may be employed to slide it to the position shown in FIGURE 1 or to the position shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3. In each position, the lid 60 covers one half of the opening 56.

In use, a sensitized paper 48 may be placed in the frame 14 by sliding the paper in between the member 42 and the underside 40 of the top wall 36. The paper is then aligned with the left-hand edge of the frame 14, as viewed in FIGURE 1. The frame 14 and the cover 60 are slid to the positions shown in FIGURE 1 wherein the guide member 24 abuts the stop member 22 which is adjacent the edge 20 of the base member 12. In this position, one fourth the area of the paper 48 is exposed in the opening 56 and a suitable picture 64- may be projected thereon. The knob 62 may then be grasped and pulled toward the edge 18 of the base 12 so that the picture 64 will be covered and the frame 14 will be slid to the stop member 22 which is adjacent the edge 18. The lid 60 and the frame 14 are then in a position shown in FIGURE 2 wherein a second picture 66 may be projected upon the sensitive paper 48. Thus, two pictures have been printed upon one half of the paper 48. The paper 48 may then be moved to the right-hand edge of the frame 14, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3. The frame 14 and the cover 16 may be left in the FIGURE 2 posi tion and a picture 68 may be projected onto the paper 4'8 in the upper left-hand corner thereof, as viewed in FIGURE 3. The cover 60 and the frame 14 may then be slid to the FIGURE 1 position whereupon a picture may be projected onto the unexposed, remaining corner of the paper 48.

Referring now to FIGURES 8-14, a photographic printing device constituting a second embodiment of the present invention, generally designate-d a, includes a base member 12a and a printing frame 14a.

The base member 12a serves the dual function of constituting a guide member to position the printing frame 14a when multiple prints are to be made and of serving as an easel for supporting sensitized paper in position to receive individual, borderless prints when the frame 14a is removed from the base member 12a. The base member 12a is provided with parallel, V-shaped Ways 16a adjacent its edges 28a and 30a, respectively. A stop member 22a is mounted on the base member 12a adjacent the edge 30a and is engageable by a first stop member 70 and a second stop member 72 which are mounted on the printing frame 14a. A pair of guide members 24a are mounted on the printing frame 14a and serve to guide it as it is reciprocated across the base member 12a. The stop members 70 and 72 are rigidly affixed to one of the guide members 24a. The stop member 70a engages the stop member 22a to position the frame 14a adjacent the edge a of base member 12a, as shown in FIGURE 13 and the stop member 72 is engageable with the stop member 22a to position the frame 14a adjacent the edge 18a of the base member 12a when the frame 14a is reciprocated on the base member 12a.

The frame 14a includes a top cover 36a having an upper side 38a and a lower side 40a. A first depending wall 50a and a second depending wall 5017 are connected to the top wall 36a by means of angle irons 52a which maintain the depending walls 50a and 50b in spaced relationship with the underside 40a of top wall 3611 so that the upper edges 78 of Walls 50a and 50b form tracks upon which a paper supporting member 42a may be slidably mounted. A lever 80 is rigidly aflixed to the paper supporting member 42a by means of a bolt 82, a spacer 84 and a wing nut 86. The end of lever 80 remote from bolt 82 extends through the wall 50b and includes a protuberance 88 which is engageable with notches 90, 92, 94 and 96 formed on the lower edge 98 of the wall 50b.

A spring clip 100 (FIGURE 11) is rigidly affixed to the paper supporting member 42a by means of a rivet 1G2 and includes a looped portion 104 extending over the upper edge of the member 42a. The clip 100 serves to engage a photo-sensitive paper 48a and maintain it in position on the supporting member 42a.

An opening 56a is provided in the top wall 36a and includes longitudinally extending Ways 58a upon which a cover or slide 60a is slidably mounted. The slide 60a includes a knob or grip 62:: which may be grasped to slide the cover 60a along the ways 58a. The cover 60a is of sufiicient size to cover one half of the opening 56a when slid to the position shown in FIGURE 8 and the other half of the opening 56a when slid to the limit of its travel toward the bottom of FIGURE 8. The notches 9t 92, 94 and 96 are spaced along the wall 50b in such a manner that one fourth of the paper 4811 will be positioned under the opening 56a in each position of the member 42a. Since one half of the opening is closed, eight prints can be made on paper 48a by manipulating the printing device 10a in a manner to be described presently.

Assuming that the opening 56a is approximately 5" x 8", more or less, depending upon the amount of margin desired around a print, the slide 6011 may be employed for 8 prints of approximately 4" x 5" size, depending again upon the amount of margin. Then by using various sizes of slides and adaptors to change the amount of opening 56a which is covered, a number of different sizes of prints can be produced. For example: Disregarding margins, eight 2 /2" x 3 /2 wallet size pictures can be printed by using a 2 /2" x 8" adaptor plate to cover one-half of the opening 56a lengthwise and by using a 2% x 4 slide. By employing various other slides and adaptors and by skipping notches and 94, many other sizes of prints can be produced, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The base member 1211 is provided with a plurality of apertures 106 and a fine wire or retaining means 108 spans each aperture and engages the base member 12a. The apertures 106 and the wires 108 may be employed to convert the base member 1211 into a printing easel for printing individual, borderless pictures when the printing carriage 14a is removed therefrom. The wires 108 may be formed across the apertures 106 by drilling a small hole 110 (FIGURE 13) adjacent opposed sides of the aperture and threading a thin wire 112 through the small holes 110 across an aperture 106 and down into another small hole 110. Then by extending the wire 112 along the underside 34a of base member, 12a to the next aperture 106, a single length of wire may be used to thread holes 110 adjacent each aperture 106.

A first set of apertures 1 06a is spaced upon the base member 12a in such a manner that a photosensitive paper measu-ring 11 x 14 inches may be placed on the base member 12a and its corners engaged under the wires 108 so that the paper may be maintained 'on the base member 12a While a picture to be printed is projected thereon. Guide lines 128 may be painted on base member 12a to outline the 11 x 14-inch area. Another set of apertures 106b is spaced on the base member 12a in such a manner that 8 x -inch photosensitive paper may be placed thereon and engaged under the retaining means 108 which span the apertures 106b. Guide lines 130 may be painted on the base member 12a to indicate the 8 x 10-inch area.

A third set' of apertures 1060 is placed on the base member 12a in such a manner that 5 x 7-inch photosensitive paper, indicated by lines 132, may be secured thereon by engaging the retainer means 108 which span the apertures 1060 wit-h the corners of the paper. An aperture 106d is placed at the mid point between each of the apertures 1060 forming the 7-inch dimension so that 3 x 5-inch pictures, indicated by lines 134, may be printed by engaging two of the apertures 106c and the apertures 106d. A first aperture 1062 is placed midway between the apertures 106d on the 5-inch dimension so that 2 x 3 -inch pictures, indicated by lines 136, may be printed by engaging the applicable apertures 106e, 106d and 106a. An aperture 106 is placed midway between the apertures forming the 10-inch dimension and a second aperture 106i is placed midway between the apertures forming the 10-inch dimension and a third aperture 106 is placed midway between the apertures forming the 8-inch dimension so that 4 x 5- inch pictures, indicated by lines 138, may be printed by engaging the applicable apertures 106e, 106 and 10612.

The device 10a may be employed for printing multiple prints on a sensitized paper 48a by inserting the paper 48a in the space provided between the underside 40a of top wall 36a and the support member 42a and clipping the paper 48a to the member 42a with the clip 100, which may be exposed by moving lever 80 to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 8, to the limit of its travel.

The lever 80 is then moved to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 8, until the protuberance 88 engages the'notch 96. This positions the sensitized paper 48a under the opening 56a in such a manner that the lower, left-hand corner of the paper 48a is in position thereunder, as shown in FIGURE 8. Assuming that the slide 60a is in its up position, picture 126 may then be projected on the paper. The lever 80 is then moved to the left until the protuberance 88 engages the notch 94 exposing frame 120 upon which a picture can be printed. Next, the lever 80 is moved to the left until the protuberance 88 engages notch 92 exposing frame 118 upon which a picture can be printed. Lever 80 is again moved to the left until notch 90 is engaged exposing frame 114 upon which a picture is printed.

The knob 62a is then grasped to slide the cover 60a over the picture 114 which exposes the upper, right-hand corner of the paper 48a, as viewed in FIGURE 8, to the opening 56a. Simultaneously the frame 14a is slid upon base member 12a to the edge 18a so that the stop member 72 engages the stop member 22a. Then frame 112 will be in position so that a picture may be projected upon the upper right-hand corner of the paper 48a. The lever is then moved to the right until the protuberance 88 engages notch 92. This brings the portion of the sensitized paper 48a represented by the broken lines 116' into position under the uncovered portion of opening 56a so that a picture may be projected thereon. Lever 80 is again moved to the right until the notch 94 is engaged exposing frame 122 upon which a picture may be projected. Next, the lever 80 is moved to the right until protuberance 88 engages notch 96 exposing frame 124 upon which a picture may be printed.

The lever or arm 80 may then be slid to its extreme right-hand position as Viewed in FIGURE 9, which will expose the paper 4 8a and the clip 100 from beneath the top Wall 36a so that the paper 48a may be readily removed and developed. Thus, eight pictures may be projected onto a single sheet of paper 48a by manipulating the device 10a in a dark room with a minimum of effort.

While the particular photographic printing devices herein shown and described in detail are fully capable of attain-ing the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that they are merely illustrative of the presently p-referred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A photographic printing device for positioning a sheet of sensitized photographic paper in such a manner that multiple prints may be projected thereon, said device comp-risin g a base member having a groove formed along its minor axis and a riser attached to each edge of said base [member which is parallel to said groove;

a stop member mounted on .said base member at each end of said groove; 1

a printing fra me reciprocally mounted on said base member, said frame having a guide member engaging said groove, one end of said guide member being engageable with said stop member at one end of said groove and the other end of said guide member being engageable with said stop member at the other end of said groove;

depending side wall means mounted on said frame at right angles to said guide member, said side Wall slidably engaging said risers to maintain said frame in spaced relation with said base member;

an opening mounted in said frame;

a cover member slidably mounted in said opening, said cover member being slidable to a first position to' cover one half of said opening when said one end of said guide member is engaging the stop member at said one end of said groove and being slidable to a second position to cover the other half of said opening when said other end of said guide member is engaging the stop member at the other end of said groove; and

a support member afiixed to said frame subjacent said opening for supporting a sensitized photographic paper in a position to receive pictures projected through said opening.

2. A photographic printing device for printing a number of photographs on a single sheet of sensitized photographic paper comprising:

a base member;

a printing frame slida btly mounted on said base member;

an opening mounted in said frame;

a paper supporting member slidably mounted in said frame subjacent said opening for positioning predetermined portions of said paper in said opening;

a cover member slidably mounted in said opening, said cover member being slidable to a first position to close one half of said opening and being slidable to a second position to cover the other half of said openingyand stop means mounted on said base member for stopping said frame when it is slid to a first position on said base member, whereby said one half of said opening is positioned at the mid portion of said base member and being adapted to stop said frame when it is slid on said base member to 'a second position wherein said other half of said opening is positioned at the mid portion of said base portion.

3, In combination with a photographic printing device for printing a number of photographs on a single sheet of sensitized photographic paper, said printing device including a slidab le printing frame, an easel for positioning said printing frame when multiple prints are made on a single sheet of said paper and for supporting said sheet of paper for projection of an individual borderless picture thereon when said frame is removed, said easel comprising:

a base member;

apertures formed in said base member at locations representing the four corners of said sheet of paper; and

continuous Wire clip means mounted on said base member and extending a'cross each aperture in a predetermined pattern for engagement with said corners to retain said sheet of paper in position on said base member While said individual picture is projected thereon.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 678,661 7/1901 Hartman 9577 1,011,870 12/1911 Smith 9536 1,998,640 4/1935 Shaw 40l58 2,631,510 3/1953 Stanks 95-46 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. RICHARD A. WINTERCORN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING DEVICE FOR POSITIONING A SHEET OF SENSITIZED PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER IN SUCH A MANNER THAT MULTIPLE PRINTS MAY BE PROJECTED THEREON, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING: A BASE MEMBER HAVING A GROOVE FORMED ALONG ITS MINOR AXIS AND A RISER ATTACHED TO EACH EDGE OF SAID BASE MEMBER WHICH IS PARALLEL TO SAID GROOVE; A STOP MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID BASE MEMBER AT EACH END OF SAID GROOVE; A PRINTING FRAME RECIPROCALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE MEMBER, SAID FRAME HAVING A GUIDE MEMBER ENGAGING SAID GROOVE, ONE END OF SAID GUIDE MEMBER BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID STOP MEMBER AT ONE END OF SAID GROOVE AND THE OTHER END OF SAID GUIDE MEMBER BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID STOP MEMBER AT THE OTHER END OF SAID GROOVE; DEPENDING SIDE WALL MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID GUIDE MEMBER, SAID SIDE WALL SLIDABLY ENGAGING SAID RISERS TO MAINTAIN SAID FRAME IN SPACED RELATION WITH SAID BASE MEMBER; AN OPENING MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME; A COVER MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID OPENING, SAID COVER MEMBER BEING SLIDABLE TO A FIRST POSITION TO COVER ONE HALF OF SAID OPENING WHEN SAID ONE END OF SAID GUIDE MEMBER IS ENGAGING THE STOP MEMBER AT SAID ONE END OF SAID GROOVE AND BEING SLIDABLE TO A SECOND POSITION TO COVER THE OTHER HALF OF SAID OPENING WHEN SAID OTHER END OF SAID GUIDE MEMBER IS ENGAGING THE STOP MEMBER AT THE OTHER END OF SAID GROOVE; AND A SUPPORT MEMBER AFFIXED TO SAID FRAME SUBJACENT SAID OPENING FOR SUPPORTING A SENSITIZED PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER IN A POSITION TO RECEIVE PICTURES PROJECTED THROUGH SAID OPENING. 